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Ex-Trinity Mirror boss in Midlands comeback

The former boss of Trinity Mirror’s Midlands titles is to return to newspapers as the new boss of their biggest regional rivals.

Steve Brown, left, was managing director of Trinity’s Midlands and North-East regional operations until he left as part of a company restructure earlier this year.

Today it emerged he has been appointed as chief executive of the Claverley Group, the ultimate owners of the Express and Star, Wolverhampton, with effect from 1 January next year.

He will replace Graham Evers, who is due to retire as chief executive after 32 years with the company, although he will remain on the board as deputy chairman.

Mr Brown was highly regarded by his former colleagues at Trinity and his departure provoked a deluge of comments on HoldtheFrontPage.

At the time, one poster calling himself Angry Journo commented prophetically: “Someone is going to get a fantastic manager soon.”

The Express and Star is in direct competition with the Birmingham Mail, one of the titles formerly under Mr Brown’s stewardship.

As well as the Wolverhampton title, Claverley also owns the Shropshire Star, the Jersey Evening Post and the Guernsey Press and Star.

Comments

ilovenewspapers (28/07/2009 11:45:00)
Fantastic -delighted for Steve and great news for MNA. Without doubt this company with Steve at the helm should mean good things for the MNA titles and of course the staff that they employ.

hack (28/07/2009 11:57:47)
Great news. Nice to see one of the good guys returning, even if it is for a rival company. TM’s loss is their gain

David Banner (28/07/2009 13:01:34)
Wonder if he’ll do anything about the appalling staff moral at the E&S, the dreadful management in place on the paper and the fact that everyone wants to leave?

Bernard Star (28/07/2009 13:07:09)
Is that the same ‘David Banner’ who works for both the Express & Star AND the Shropshire Star (excellent time management, by the way) but is always “on lunch” when people ring to complain about his stories…..???

Nelson (28/07/2009 13:21:49)
Hack says “TM’s loss is their gain.” The words ‘own goal’ spring to mind Ms Harvey!

Tallyho (28/07/2009 13:23:44)
Good for you Steve and good for Claverly. Treated like crap by Trinity Mirror, still you can always fall in it and come up smelling of roses.

KM (28/07/2009 16:39:34)
Congratulations Steve!

FAST WOMAN (28/07/2009 16:43:52)
There’s no doubt that those of us who left Trinity Mirror with heads held high are delighted by this news.
Congratulations Steve Brown, you’ve taken a tough job in a tough time but will put everything into succeeding.
E&S staff: of course you won’t like every decision, but Mr B will tell it straight and lead from the front.

ilovenewspapers (29/07/2009 10:54:50)
Mr Banner -if everyone wants to leave why don’t they? Do management chain you to your desks?

Anne Edwards (29/07/2009 11:56:23)
Well done Steve! I remember you as a decent MD who always had time for his staff.

peter young (03/08/2009 12:22:09)
Congratulations Steve. E&S’s gain is Trinity Mirror’s loss.

Snag (25/03/2010 12:06:47)
Didn’t last long!
With immediate effect Steve Brown has been fired!

Mick (25/03/2010 13:34:16)
Disgraceful. Bring someone in to change a company stuffed full of old codgers that have very little experience from the wider industry, then ditch him without warning when he tries to do the job, the way it needs to be done.